New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-20
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

PAPER BY CAPTAIN C. Z. BUTTON ON THE
CHARLESTON EARTHQUAKE.
WASHINGTON, April 10 (SpeeiaI-rhe annual meeting
OF tho National Academy OF Sciences was opened at
noon to-day PI OfessOr .. c. Mash. OF Yale, wac In
the chair, and Professor Osaph Hail. Of the National
Observ at0ry, acted as secretary. Among the MEM
bers present who not residents OF Washington
were 7. Stery Hunt, Edward 5. Morse. f. W. Putnam.
Ira Remsen, General F.ancis A. walker and Charles
A. Young Alter q preliminary and private business
meeting the first paper OF the session was presented
by I. Sterry Hunt Montreal, on chemical lntegra-
tion" This followed by paper on 1.-THE Rainless
Character Of the Sahara," written By Elias LOOMS.
and read In his absence by Professor Charles A.
Young, OF Princeton
The afternoon session occupied with the reading
and discussion Of a paper by captain Clarence L.
Dutton assisted by Ensign Everett Hayden present.
ing In abstract the Of their investigation OF
the Charleston earthquake. Captain button stated
that the United States Geological survey had Tar moro
nation about the Cha Lesson earthquake than aoour
any other earthquake. Reports had been received from
more than 1000 localities. These reports were ID
large measure the result Of distributing inquiries re-
specting the and character OF the SHOCKS
among Intelligent people In those places where the
earthquake was felt Beyond their bearing on the queS
ton time Of transit OF the shock the answes
to the circular chiefly looked to as measure
Of the intensity Of the disturbance and indeaten
Of tho kind and direction OF the motion While there
Is no better way yet devised for estimating the force
VI shock than by examining Its effects buildings
on the SOIL and on the and sensations Of men
which compaed with physical research III other direc-
lions extremely iudv-beter results were secured
than might be supposed
The area within which the motion was sufficient
to attiact the attention OF the unex observer
would be somewhat more than circumscribed by
circle 1000 miles radius, and the area Of markedly
sensible shaking was somewhere between two anu
half aud three million square miles. II was shown
that there several large tracts recording com.
paratveiy feeble intensity, although situated In gen.
erai area Of greater Intensity The conspicuous
Of these OF silence was the Appalachian region
1t does appear, however, that the Appalaclians
offered any sensible barrier to the progress OF the
deeper waves.
In the absence Of available unit Of intensity
of shock, Captain button TUNED his attention TO Tho
earthquake impulse considered as an elastic wave.
transmitting its energy through the deeply seated
rocks, and in its propagation and varying intensity
sub ect the laws OF wave motion by reference 70
these the possibility Is suggested Of making an az.
proxmato estimate OF tho depth OF the focus. based
the rate at which the Intensity OF the shock at tho
surface dmnshes In the neghbornood OF the epicenter
The distance from the epicenuer to the point where
the Of the decline Is greatest Is simply proper
tionate to the depth Of the focus. and Is the same
whether the energy be greater S Of les, TIC
of rapidly being found the depth Of focus ouows
at Onco. The determination OF the epicenral tract
in Charleston made by y. Sloan Of that city, who
located IL at the ninemile post the South Caroln3
Railroad from which Captain Dutton thought II could
not be more than mile distant either way.
Among the great earthquakes OF tho last century and
O half that are known none have originated from 4
geater depth than the Charleston earthquake, fac
Indicated alike by the dlstance-about 1000 miles-ae
which the shock felt and the relatively low inen-
sity OF the shock in the epicentrai tract Mallct1
law Of the intensity Of shock was criticised
at some length.